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National Council on Teacher Quality Names WGU’s Teachers College ‘Best Value’

News Brief - 10/5/15

NASHVILLE  The Teachers College of Western Governors University (WGU)parent university of WGU Tennesseehas again earned top honors in the nation, this time for being named the “best value” in teacher education by the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ). WGU’s Teachers College scored highest, out of 1,100 education schools and programs reviewed nationally, on a combination of factors including quality, affordability, and how well the school prepares future teachers for the realities of the classroom.

The list is the first of its kind by a national education policy organization. The ranking analyzed undergraduate and graduate programs that specialize in elementary or secondary teacher preparation. WGU received an “A” grade for its secondary programs.

The NCTQ has ranked WGU’s secondary teacher preparation program as the top program in the nation in terms of quality from a list of 2,400 programs, and WGU was one of only 10 institutions named to the top lists for both elementary and secondary teacher education.

“We are pleased to empower future teachers so they can focus on student growth rather than worry about gaps in their own training or if they’ll be able to pay back a mountain of debt,” said Kate Walsh, NCTQ president.

WGU’s Teachers College, the largest single provider of STEM educators in the U.S., now has 14,000 students and 17,000 graduates. Because WGU develops its curriculum in collaboration with educational leaders across the country, WGU graduates are well prepared to teach in today’s classrooms. Graduates of WGU’s teacher preparation programs can be licensed in all 50 states, and last year, 100% of WGU graduates who applied for teaching licenses were successful.

In addition to their high quality, WGU’s Teachers College programs are affordable. Tuition is $3,000 per term, charged at a flat rate, regardless of the number of courses completed, and has not increased since 2008. WGU’s competency-based learning model allows students to study and learn at their own pace, moving quickly through what they already know so they can focus on what they still need to learn. This allows many students to accelerate their studies, finishing faster, which saves not only time, but money.